Northwestern’s wrestlers have battled every week for an exhausting month in the best conference in the nation.
This past weekend, the Wildcats had one final shot at a Big Ten victory, with home matches against No. 25 Purdue and No. 3 Michigan. But the weekend came and went, and the Cats (4-13-1, 0-8 Big Ten) still have no conference wins to show for their efforts.
On Friday, NU lost to the Boilermakers – who finished in 11th place a year ago – 26-9. Two days later, the Cats jumped out to a promising lead against the Wolverines, only to be routed 36-7. With the regular season over, NU wrestlers will target March 3, the start of the Big Ten championships, as their ticket to get into the NCAA championships.
“It’s a new season, and they have to go prove it all again,” NU coach Tim Cysewski said. “The regular season is nice, and you want to do well, but that doesn’t get you to nationals. This is where the pedal hits the metal.”
The Purdue match had the makings of an upset: The Boilermakers are 10th in the conference, and NU is 11th. To beat Purdue, the Cats needed to win the matches they were favored in, win the even matches and pull off a surprise victory somewhere along the way.
Based on that criteria, NU started off strong when 141-pounder Josh Ballard and 157-pounder Jason Erwinski racked up relatively easy wins.
But things broke down for the Cats in the next two categories.
Ryan Kane (165 pounds) defeated Purdue’s Kirk Moore, but NU freshman Ryan Cumbee was unable to get on track. At heavyweight, NU’s Josh Saul lost 6-5 to Purdue’s Jake Vercelli.
A year ago, Vercelli defeated Saul by one point at the Big Ten championships, and Vercelli was the one who earned an NCAA berth.
“Saul had a tough match and did well, but he made some tactical mistakes,” Cysewski said. After tying the score at five, Vercelli earned the deciding point by escaping from Saul’s grasp in the final 30 seconds of the match.
Against Michigan, NU started with its strength when Cumbee and Erwinski cruised to victories and staked the team to a 7-0 lead.
Then the roof caved in.
The Wolverines won the next 36 points by relying on their celebrated talent – seven consecutive ranked wrestlers. The Cats again counted on wins from Ballard, Kane and Saul, but all three lost, and the Cats never had a chance.
“Michigan is a really balanced team. We know they are a quality team,” said Cysewski, citing the Wolverines’ earlier win over defending national champion Iowa.
With the regular season over, NU coaches have greater concerns, like improving their wrestlers’ positioning and takedown techniques. A glaring need is production in the 174-pound, 184-pound and 197-pound weight classes. The personnel at those weight classes have gone a combined 0-24 in conference play.
“We had some difficulties in those weight classes.” Cysewski said. “We are giving up experience, but we are gaining it, too.”
Despite the team’s dismal record, NU has enjoyed individual success.
Although he is still not ranked, Erwinski has solidified his status as NU’s best wrestler after posting a 7-1 Big Ten record. The sophomore envisions a rematch with his former high school teammate, T.J. Williams of Iowa, in the Big Ten finals.
Williams, ranked No. 1 in the nation, handed Erwinski his lone conference defeat.
“He’s been underrated all year by the polls. That’s fine,” Cysewski said of Erwinski. “His being overlooked gives him an edge. He’s grown more confident in his abilities, and the sky is the limit. He can definitely challenge for a Big Ten title.”
As the season reaches its climax, young, promising wrestlers like Ballard, Cumbee and Kane have a legitimate opportunity to place in the top seven and qualify for the NCAAs.
“Most of the guys haven’t wrestled in the Big Tens before,” Cysewski said. “It is a fresh start and a second life.”
